Maharashtra clears OBC status for 'Hindu Vaishya' entry in old records

People whose old documents record their surname as 'Hindu Vaishya' will no longer face hurdles in obtaining OBC caste certificates and caste validity certificates. The state government has issued an order clearly including the 'Hindu Vaishya' entry in the OBC category. The decision has brought major relief to the Vaishya Vani community, which has welcomed the move. Sindhudurg district Vaishya Vani Samaj president Sunil Bhogte thanked the state government and the public representatives involved.

At a press conference held at Kudal MIDC, Sunil Bhogte explained the background to the decision. Kudal taluka president Suchitra Bhogte, Patsanstha director advocate Sameer Vanjari, Umesh Walke and Vijay Bhogte were present on the occasion. Bhogte said that after the Vaishya Vani community was removed from the OBC category, community representatives had been pursuing the matter since 2008. At the time, several meetings were held at the ministry with the help of then social welfare minister Moge and then MP Narayan Rane. Subsequently a Backward Classes Commission was formed, which visited Sindhudurg district, conducted an inquiry and submitted a report. Based on this, the 2011 government resolution, at serial number 190, included 'Hindu Vani' and 'Hindu Vaishyavani' in the OBC category.

The problem was that the 'Hindu Vaishya' entry itself had not been clearly mentioned at that time, causing many in the community difficulty in obtaining caste certificates and validity certificates. People whose school admission records, birth records and land documents listed 'Vaishya' or 'Hindu Vaishya' were directly affected by this technical gap. The community had therefore been continuously demanding that the 'Hindu Vaishya' entry also be clearly included.

To resolve the issue, a meeting was held at the ministry on August 25 in the presence of social welfare minister Atul Save and industries minister Uday Samant. The meeting was attended by MLA Kiran Samant, MLA Pramod Jathar, MLA Amal Mahadik, Ratnagiri's Vikas Shetye, Lanja's Prasanna Shetye, and from Sindhudurg, Sunil Bhogte, advocate Sameer Vanjari and Umesh Walke. Since the admission season was underway, industries minister Uday Samant asked for the government order to be issued immediately. Sunil Bhogte said this led the government to issue a clear order including the 'Hindu Vaishya' entry within just ten days.

Bhogte clarified that the decision will make it easier for people recorded as 'Hindu Vani', 'Hindu Vaishya' and 'Hindu Vaishyavani', as well as community members who can furnish proof from before 1967, to obtain OBC caste certificates and caste validity certificates. This will benefit them in admissions, government jobs and political reservation. On the occasion, he publicly thanked the chief minister, industries minister Uday Samant, social welfare minister Atul Save, MLA Pramod Jathar, as well as former union minister and MP Narayan Rane, MLA Deepak Kesarkar and Rajan Teli, who had earlier supported the community's demand.